matelessadj.
/ˈmeɪtlᵻs/, U.S. /ˈmeɪtlᵻs/ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > quality of being special or extraordinary > [adjective] > incomparable, unparalleled, or unique
unilicheOE
makelessc1225
unevenlyc1230
peerlessc1330
alonea1382
uncomparablea1382
unoverpassablea1382
solea1398
incomparable1412
sans-peer1426
nonpareilc1450
invincible1509
matchless1530
inimitable1531
unmatchable1544
unmatched1548
unpassable1563
alonely1567
inequivalent1568
mateless1570
unparagonized1578
only1581
fellowlessa1586
unimitablea1586
compareless1590
incompared1590
immatchless1595
unequalized1596
nonsuch1598
paragonless1599
immatchable1601
unparalleled1601
uncompeered1602
unpeered1602
imparalleled1604
unpeerable1604
unrivalled1607
uncompanioned1608
unexampled1610
unsurmountable1611
unsurpassable1611
unparagoned1612
patternless1613
unpatterned1617
unique1618
unparallelable1621
parallelless1622
unmatchless1623
single1633
unexemplifieda1634
unsampleda1638
unequalled1639
imparallel1641
unparallel1645
unseconded1646
unexemplary1649
unaccessional1651
unequalable1659
uncome-at-able1694
rivalless1735
untouched1735
unexcelleda1800
unexceeded1813
sans-pareilly1818
unsurpassed1818
unrivallable1823
unapproachable1834
untranscendeda1849
insuperable1849
unbrothered1853
unapproached1856
insurpassable1859
untouchable1867
hors concours1884
1570 B. Googe tr. T. Kirchmeyer Popish Kingdome i. f. 1 Good Muse declare, my force to weake, can not therto attaine Ne can disclose the mysteries, of such a matelesse raigne.
1624 F. Quarles Sions Elegies i. 12 Say, if e're your eyes beheld..more unparallel'd And matelesse Evills.
a1701 C. Sedley in Misc. Wks. (1702) 4 Bright Galatea, in whose Mateless Face Sat rural Innocence, with heavenly Grace.
2. Without a mate, partner, or companion.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > family unit > [adjective] > without a mate
mateless1599
widowed1730
maiden1804
the mind > emotion > love > a lover > [adjective] > provided with or having a lover or mate > without a lover or mate
mateless1599
servantless1658
loverless1824
unmating1857
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > unmarried person(s) > [adjective] > without a spouse
makelessa1450
spouselessc1450
mateless1599
unmated1615
1599 T. Moffett Silkewormes 13 Shalt thou alone die matelesse, Thisbe mine?
1612 H. Peacham Minerua Britanna ii. 186 The Thrush a tenor; off a little space, Some mateless Dove doth murmur out the base.
1705 N. Tate Triumph 17 I'll teach you then the Charm that shall..make..The Mateless Nightingal no more complain.
1837 New Monthly Mag. 49 23 One mateless dove is answering.
1887 C. Bowen tr. Virgil Æneid iv, in tr. Virgil in Eng. Verse 210 Mateless and all unblamed, untutored in love and its pain!
1926 L. C. E. Gee Bush Tracks & Gold Fields 72 'Possum Bill was a ‘hatter’, that is, a mateless river man, who roamed about by himself.
1980 W. Horwood Duncton Wood ix. 92 Rebecca's bleak mateless spring had become an early summer of delights.
1991 Quarterly (U.S.) Summer 69 She has..a few spoons needing washing, a mateless sock.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1570